business travel, duty of care, South Africa

Domestic travel risks: What does this mean for duty of care?

When taxi strikes paralysed Cape Town, leaving travellers stranded en route to and from the airport, it wasn't just an inconvenience—it was a wake-up call. It revealed an unsettling truth: only 24% of companies have a Plan B for travel risk management, according to a survey by Everbridge.

This is a violation of your duty of care to your employees. A contingency plan isn't optional—it's obligatory. The "duty of care" concept isn't restricted to exotic overseas trips. Your legal and moral obligation to ensure safe travel and emergency support for your employees extends to every aspect of their work-related travel—whether they're flying cross-country or simply commuting to the office.

What is duty of care?

In corporate travel, "duty of care" is the legal and moral obligation that employers hold to safeguard the wellbeing and safety of their employees during work-related travel. Companies are expected not just to have policies but proactive, dynamic support systems. Failure to fulfil this duty can result in a breach of duty and even personal injury cases.

"Your duty of responsibility for the wellbeing of your employees doesn't end at city limits or country borders. Domestic travel—day-to-day commuting and in-country flights for brief meetings—equally deserve meticulous planning and risk mitigation. It's time we give domestic duty of care the attention it warrants," says Bonnie Smith, GM of Corporate Traveller.

Other risks on the road

Is e-hailing the answer for domestic transport? Using app-based transport services gives business travellers flexibility and convenience but isn't risk-free, and you don't have access to the people behind the service. To ensure the safety of your travellers, you want to be able to contact an actual human, not rely on a chatbot when an emergency arises.

“Diversify your transportation options with pre-arranged shuttles, partnerships with local taxi services, and car rentals,” suggests Smith.

How safe is that guesthouse?

A cookie-cutter approach to corporate travel can lead you straight into a minefield of unforeseen risks, particularly for women and LGBTQ+ employees. Your travel policy needs to be exhaustive, nuanced, and adaptable to each traveller's unique needs, says Smith.

Even accommodation choices, such as opting for smaller guesthouses, come with unique challenges. Smaller establishments often offer a cosy, personalised experience to travellers. They are also sometimes the only option when travelling outside of metros. But how can you ensure their security is up to scratch?

"By working with a reliable Travel Management Company (TMC) like Corporate Traveller, you can assess the risks to your travellers and receive assistance in vetting guesthouses and hotels for security, power backup, and other facilities affecting safety,” says Smith.

Here's a rundown of non-negotiables for enhancing domestic travel safety:

Pre-Travel Risk Assessments: Education is empowerment. Arm your team with in-depth knowledge of their travel risks.

Explicit Travel Policies: Crystalise your guidelines into actionable steps that cover everything from medical emergencies to security threats.

Real-Time Monitoring: Employ state-of-the-art travel management software from Corporate Traveller for real-time tracking of employee locations, supplemented by a 24/7 hotline.

Emergency Response Plans: Equip your team with a foolproof emergency action plan. Preparedness isn't just crucial—it's lifesaving.

Insurance and Healthcare: Ensure comprehensive insurance plans cover all employees and provide a verified list of local healthcare providers.

Mandated Safety Standards: Make vetted transportation and secure accommodations non-negotiable components of your travel policy.

Regular Communication: Keep the channels open for ongoing updates and post-trip feedback for continual refinement of your travel strategy.

Smith sums it up: "When you go above and beyond in your duty of care, you're not just protecting your team; you're solidifying your reputation as an employer that prioritises safety unequivocally. It’s a positive business decision."

Corporate Traveller isn't a mere option for your company's travel safety—it's the definitive business travel solution. With our cutting-edge technology and around-the-clock expert consultation, we don't just set the bar for safety; we are the bar. We offer exhaustive risk travel risk management and assessments, immediate security alerts, and swift emergency responses.

Ready to elevate your duty of care to the next level? Download our guide to travel risk management, or contact us.

Domestic travel risks: What does this mean for duty of care?

Chapters

What is duty of care?

Other risks on the road

How safe is that guesthouse?

Here's a rundown of non-negotiables for enhancing domestic travel safety:

Let us elevate your duty of care. Get in touch!